The authors of the idea - the founders of MUA - aim to transform the empty building into an urban space that will become a platform for the young and free minded artists to create and share, implement and execute new ideas.

FABRIKA is being launched on the grounds of the former sewing factory which operated at Soviet times. The concept of the Soviet design style is maintained but modernized in the interior and exterior of the entire place that makes it more attractive and interesting. The Space consists of three distinctive building blocks, which form a rectangular shaped courtyard – “the Hurt of the FABRIKA PLACE”. MUA aims to minimize their interference into existing unique and distinctive atmosphere to retain the spirit of place by leaving bear walls, floors, existing paint, reused site material and old décor where possible. Improvements are made in overall access and circulation within the buildings, added disabled access and by replacement of outdated MEP systems with energy efficient ones.

FABRIKA PLACE is believed to be the space for socializing, inspiration and collaboration, where you can implement new ideas, meet the artists and their art, have interesting conversations with foreign travelers and connect with free and rebellious minded people.

FABRIKA PLACE consists of the following spaces:

Art shops

Studios

Rehearsal studios

Co-working space

Cafes / bars

Hostel

Artists Residence

Gallery

Other public spaces

The place will be the everyday destination for ones who creates and shares, loves freedom and is open to new ideas and inspirations.

TBILISI PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

This work represents the idea of dynamics in sport with the abstract compositions of the staircase and the reception table. The first object you encounter is the introverted desk with its never-ending fissure, and then you meet the extroverted staircase - like the open path to Olympus, where the summit meets its own reflection, inferring that striving never ends, that there is no limit to human achievement.

The building was built at the end of the XIX century for a private investor and it was later used as the residence of one of the leaders of the Communist party. Later, in the 1960's, it was renovated for government purposes and remained untouched until ownership was transferred to GeoNOCH.

The structure of the building was reinforced at the basement level which gave way to forming significant openings in the walls of the upper stories. The staircase was transformed into wondering structure on its own, so it shifted from one space to another thus penetrating the building skeleton.

LAZIKA MUNICIPALITY

Steel-structured building is part of the development of a new city on the Black Sea coast. The brief was to create a Public Service Hall, a Wedding Hall and Municipal Offices. Work on the project began at the end of January, 2012, and the building was completed in mid-September, 2012. The building was constructed in 168 days with a progressive drafting schedule.

The building is a juxtaposition between a building and a sculpture. It is not divided into floors but is comprised of volumes – each volume of the building can function separately from the other. Lazika Municipality is a rectilinear experiment in the vertical displacement of solid mass.

This is a series of floating objects – which should set the stage for this new city on the marshlands. The local architecture was historically stilt-supported so there is natural precedent here. Yona Friedman’s ‘floating city’ is the main correlation point for this project.

The ambition of this project was to make a building as a sculpture made out of one material. The suspended volumes create public spaces, separated from each other, forming a monument, and saliently, a benchmark for the new architecture of new futuristic city. The main priority here is the void, not the mass - all began with the empty space - since this is a project of the future and there is no memory to which solid mass might refer. Instead of carving void-space from a cube, we have done the reverse. It is a void with volumes inserted - and each volume has a fragile connection to the others, via the void. For example, there is a red glass tube (the elevators) connecting the lower floors with the top cubic volume - so the experience is of transition, as though through red lens. When one navigates the building, the voids are felt more than the solid forms - it can be daunting at times.

The structural frame is constructed from steel, utilizing a series of raking steel columns to produce the dramatic floated upper platform. Challenges include the seismic conditions and the sympathetic employment of local skills to achieve what will be an iconic statement of architectural ambition.

The foundation solution was for 80 piles 800mm diameter (has been installed through rotary percussion methods) and up to 25m deep. Control of settlements due to organic layers and control of potential liquefaction of the ground during a seismic event were the main concerns.

A key consideration in the design was the need to control costs where possible but also to use local materials and local labor so as to give the maximum benefit to the local economy. Normally this would push the design towards a structural concrete solution in Georgia. However the complexity of the project dictated that the project is best developed using a Structural Steel Framing Solution.

The Site

Lazika is a newly founded city on the Black Sea coast, located on previously uninhabited coastal wetlands. Lazika is located one mile to the south of the Black Sea resort Anaklia and 3 miles south of Georgia's border with Abkhazia. The name 'Lazika' refers to the Graeco-Roman name for the region. The city’s existence was announced in December, 2011 by President Saakashvili, and established upon the completion of the Lazika municipality building in September 2012. The city remains in limbo with only one building, the municipality building, having been constructed. Currently, Lazika's future hangs in the balance, as the current government decides its course of action.

The architecture of this particular area (Mengrelia - West Georgia) reflects environmental considerations. The region has high level of humidity and dump soil, so local peoples traditionally built houses on stilts with no foundation to encourage ventilation from underneath and keep the structure dry.

Elevated Plinths

The three volumes of this structure are all detached from the ground at different levels. Each of these three shapes are devoted to different functions. Each of these three volumes operates self-sufficiently and has its own entrance from the street but they are also inter-connected. The volume on the ground level is designated as the main Public Services Hall, with easy access at street level. The second volume is dedicated for use as a wedding ceremony hall with direct access to a large terrace. The third volume floats 20m above the ground and contains office spaces. Only pillars and circulation points touch the ground.

The perforated aluminum-sheet-cladding finishing of the facade of the top volume bring 50% transparency and lend a solid quality to the volume at the same time. The steel frame structure is integrated throughout all parts of the design and this frame is exposed to emphasize the building's technology and spirit of innovation. The top volume has the dimensions of 35mx35m, and its downward projection describes the contours of the building - which is a parallelogram containing positive and negative space.

A specific appearance was given to each functional volume - the transparent (public hall), the semi-transparent (wedding hall), and the translucent (offices). The public hall has clear walls on all four sides. The wedding hall is a dynamic volume where floor, wall and ceiling utilizes the same material - and the curve they describe brings dynamics to the adjacent terrace which lies underneath the top volume. The top volume is an enclosed mass, concentrated on the activity of office work, but it too, gives precedence to the void at its centre.

Programme

The client needed a public office or a town hall where they could start work on future city planning. They required an accessible Public Service Hall, a Wedding Hall and Offices for about 40 employees, at a size of about 1500 m2.

The functional interaction of the building's programme and the status of the proposed building incited a number of considerations:

• Primarily, the idea of introducing a sculptural object integrated into the landscape rather than a building. Hence very flat geography of the place floating above the ground offices are used to overlook the New City and New International Port. The plinth serves as an office for the employees of the Municipality, while the ground floor volume is dedicated to the Public Services Hall.

• A focus has been given to introducing a raised plinth (20m above the ground), which is devoted to the offices.

• Public Service Hall is positioned on the ground level with easy street access, distinguished frame and no mullion glass panels.

• Introducing the raised plinth as one of the interaction-points of the programme was derived from an analysis of flat geography, public spaces, community life and local climate. The relative access and recreational opportunities for each component of the programme resulted in an optimal development focus to meet all possible public needs.

• The building consists of a ground floor with double-height spaces and with a multipurpose roof, wedding hall and offices. All functions of the building have separate access points.

HILTON BATUMI

Location – Batumi, Georgia

Program – Hotel, Restaurant, Retail, Casino, Spa, Pool, Sky Bar

Building Area – 74,000 SqM

Budget – 70M USD

The Black Sea Hotel & Residences project is a mixed use leisure development on the coast line of the black sea in Batumi, Georgia. The development consists of a 247 key 5* Hilton operated hotel, a residential apartment building and a podium with retail and restaurant units. The development is approximately 75,000sqm (gross), including two levels of car parking and extensive public realm and landscaping incorporated into the scheme.
Multiverse Architecture was appointed to provide design services, construction documentation and BIM modelling of building architecture for RIBA stages E to K. Concept Design and Design Development (to RIBA Stage D) by RTKL UK.

OZURGETI HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Location - Ozurgeti,Georgia

Program - Public Service Hall, Offices, Wedding Hall

Construction Period - 2011/2012

Area - 1560 m2

Budget - $2.5 Mil

Multiverse architecture were invited to submit a proposal by Georgia’s House of Justice. The brief included a design for a 1500m2 building to house 95 members of staff and a flow of 400 users a day, to serve Ozurgeti’s population of 500,000. Construction began in September 2011. The Ministry building brings together a number of services - the Civil Registry Agency, National Agency of Public Registry, National Archives of Georgia, National Bureau of Enforcement and Notary Chamber - under one roof, creating a new blueprint for a government building. Inspired by a classical Greek form, the Ministry is fronted with regular columns, but, rather than a rendered façade, the columns support a canopy beneath which are two independent and contrasting glass volumes. The size of the Public Hall defines the first volume, which is rectangular and also contains office space. The second volume is oval and set apart from the rectangular block to accommodate a covered entrance and public walkway between the buildings, connecting the square to one of Ozurgeti’s major boulevards. Each form is double-storied and linked by an underground corridor. The exteriors and interiors are uniform white, adding to a sense of luminosity. The choice of 100% transparent low emission glass creates brightness inside the building. This building is contextual, with a clear relationship to the city and its surroundings. It invites public interaction and its presence modernises the square with its existing residential buildings, a former local art museum and a 400-seat theatre.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HOUSE

This work represents the idea of dynamics in sport with the abstract compositions of the staircase and the reception table. The first object you encounter is the introverted desk with its never-ending fissure, and then you meet the extroverted staircase - like the open path to Olympus, where the summit meets its own reflection, inferring that striving never ends, that there is no limit to human achievement.

The building was built at the end of the XIX century for a private investor and it was later used as the residence of one of the leaders of the Communist party. Later, in the 1960's, it was renovated for government purposes and remained untouched until ownership was transferred to GeoNOCH.

The structure of the building was reinforced at the basement level which gave way to forming significant openings in the walls of the upper stories. The staircase was transformed into wondering structure on its own, so it shifted from one space to another thus penetrating the building skeleton.

GARAGE

Status - Concept Proposal; Pending.

New Initiative by MUA for revitalization of the old Soviet multi-level parking building.The aim of the project is to create the new type of budget residence for those who crave community lifestyle and have passion for creativity. Deceptively distant from the exhausting city center, yet minutes away from prime amenities, Garage is located right on the edge of the city adjacent to Shavnabada Mountain. Bonded with the nature Garage COULD be the new type of multifunctional space in Tbilisi. Transforming an empty building into the urban space that will become a platform for the young and free minded people to create and share, implement and execute new ideas in harmony with surrounding nature and beautiful landscape.
This is a new project on the grounds of the former multi storied parking building which operated at Soviet times to service high level government officials

The sale office is located on one of the main avenues in the Centre of Tbilisi. The surrounding area is mostly for residential with shop fronts, sales offices, cafés and other type of commercial spaces at ground floor level.

The concept behind Design is a ‘transmitter’ - the device for transferring information. The device is represented in a specific object within sales office space in form of the sales desk. ‘Transmitter desk’ creates intimate relationship between the client and the customer, representing direct communicator for achieving needs of future technologies.

The desk is made of layers cut from plywood, painted and exposed inside it refers to how the system works and locates the information. The inside floor circle is made of durable rubber, colored to accentuate the feeling of hot connection.

The ceiling is a dark grey with plug-in like down light diffusors. Red light identifies the place of IPTV decoder and blue web browsing area. Part of the ceiling is stretched PVC translucent fabric with fluorescent bulbs on structural slab behind, which serves as additional directed lighting on top of the reception area. Though these shapes form a random spatial organization, the flooring grid and rectangular glass partitions hold this chaos in rigid composition.

The existing building complex was built in the 70th century – for the Soviet Military Headquarters of the Caucasus region. The complex consists of several building. Special attention is given to the upper blocks (Blocks No: 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6). Structural analysis is done specifically for the main building of the complex. The complex is located on crossroads of the Vake-Saburtalo road and Tamarashvili Avenue opposite the Hippodrome. It is formed in Russian letter ­-shape.

TBC Oasis

TBC Oasis is an experience, a discovery of boundless resource within secure parameters. Visitors enter through the building's opening, like a key entering a lock, and a lush and fertile oasis appears before them. The whole design strives towards oasis, representing both a nourishing source but also a sense of rescue. The outside façade is closed but the interior space is enormous, light and expansive, embodying the opportunity and security of belonging to TBC bank as a customer. The essence of this design suggests the strong protection and inner abundance of a financial institution with integrity. The courtyard oasis garden is further illuminated, especially after nightfall by a translucent sphere that acts like the sun or the moon - providing the oasis with a constant glow.

ZakVO

The Transcaucasian Military District, a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces, traces its history to May 1921and the incorporation of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia into the USSR. It was disbanded by being redesignated as a Group of Forces in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapse. The complex is located on crossroads of the Vake-Saburtalo road and Tamarashvili Avenue opposite the Hippodrome.

The existing building complex was built in the 70th century. The complex consists of several buildings blocks. The blocks are separated from each other with foundation expansion joints. Blocks No: 1, 2, 3, 4 are ten stories high, plus ground and basement floors. Block No: 6 is four floors above-ground plus basement. All buildings are rectangular shape and their skeleton is determined by joint concrete slabs and columns. It is formed in Russian letter ­-shape.

Programme

Programme of the building is focused two main features - the void and the Oasis courtyard. The void combines functions of a lobby, reception, operation hall and smoking terraces. It acts as a buffer zone before the covered courtyard. Shuttle lifts are connecting the lobby to the senior management offices floor and the sky-garden. Recessed glass wall allows terraces to be used as staff smoking and recreational areas. The courtyard connects all three main volumes of the building on the ground floor and acts as an extended lobby. The covered courtyard has annual subtropical temperature for the orangery which is the main feature of the courtyard. Translucent sphere is a fifty seat conference hall with a gallery spiral space above it. The entrance to the sphere is a bridge though the orangery. The interaction of the programme and the stage of the proposed building emerged based on a number of considerations:

• Primarily, the desire to create a greater lobby and a multipurpose place for the people tocreate business.

• A focus has been given to introducing a void-lobby, which acts as a connection hub for the building complex and an orangery

• Introducing the covered courtyard as the main interaction-point of the programme was derived from the idea of bringing people to place with an optimal development focus to meet all possible business needs. All functions of the building have separate access points to the courtyard making the platform a secure and ultimately flexible connection zone.

• The project relies on ten plus two underground floors of building programme in order to maximize the use of land and budget.

• The building has a sky-garden with a direct access from the lobby.

• The car park has separate access points from the front and the rear parts of the building thus offering each member of Staff Park at its closest offices block. The senior management team has a separate entrance and car park with a direct access to it' own office floor.

BATUMI RIVIERA

The Brief

The site is located adjacent to The Black Sea volcanic pebble stoned cost and serves as one of the access points between the city and the sea coast. New 25 km boulevard is passing in front of the slope. The surrounding area is mostly recreational with hotels and a public squares. The site is currently a home for 19th century navigation lighthouse, which is later integrated into the proposed public space and building development. Back side of the building is open towards the square with 3D cinema, gallery, cafes and restaurants, when the front side of it, serving as a roof and the terrace, which simultaneously becomes a part of an existing boulevard and the seaside.

Elevated Landscape

The concept behind this building centers on the notion of an elevated landscape, an open public platform which acts like an open Amphitheatre for viewing the performance on the stage. The elevated landscape has the advantage of preserving the original land surface, creates platform for exceptional views towards the Black Sea and maintains access to the whole program below.
The building is essentially a horizontal platform which was lifted to liberate the space below and then tilted to expose views to the sea and create a quasi-amphitheatrical shape. The area of the site is equal to the total gained roof terrace area. So the roof acts like a facade and a platform at the same time. But it is also an extension of the boulevard. The platform is linked to the boulevard by a broad set of stairs, which are designed to be actively used by the public for sitting and enjoying the views.
This proposed landmark building is an elevated landscape with emphasis on preserving the horizontal qualities of the site. It interacts with the sea views - as viewed from without and within.

Lighthouse - 'Mys Burun Tabiya'

Date unknown (early 1900s) (station established under Ottoman rule in 1863). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 17 m (56 ft) octagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is dark metallic. Russia built a lighthouse here in 1883, replacing a smaller Turkish light. Located on the point of Mys (Cape) Burun Tabiya, which partly shelters the harbor of Batumi, about 1 km (0.6 mi) northwest of the harbor light. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty E5768; NGA 19324.
This building incorporates a specially dedicated new office for the lighthouse and a protected zone from the deck. There is exclusive access for lighthouse employees. The lighting of the deck itself in the evening is minimal and arranged so that it doesn't interfere with the working of the lighthouse.

Programme

The top level includes a cafe and a stage with audience seating for 700 people. The stage is 20m x 20m which can accommodate a different range of musical performance from a 40-piece classical orchestra to jazz bands and rock groups. This stage is accompanied by an open-air cafe, which has access from the ground floor with a lift. On the other side of the platform there is a lounge bar, which faces the lighthouse on one side and the other side overlooks the city square below.
3D cinema for 100 people is located underneath the platform, an additional cafe and bar, various shops and a bicycle/roller-skate rental office. There are two different volumes that overhang the ground floor - and these will accommodate the cafes. The ground floor and the top deck are interconnected by a ramp, a spiral staircase in the middle of the building and two lifts for the disabled. There is direct access from the ground floor to the boulevard.

ROOMS APARTMENT HOTEL

The brief was to create a small apartment hotel with only several apartments that would become an addition to the already famous Rooms Hotel in Tbilisi. Land plot is located just across a small one-way street and the idea is that apartment keys will be sold from an existing hotel reception/lobby (same goes to servicing the apartments).

The challenge was to design a building, which would be modern, isolated from a busy street, ambient and relaxing for the visitors and would get the city's approval in a heritage zone adjacent to the building titled the heritage monument.

After numerous tests in search of the concept, we came up with the idea of placing an empty canvas that would allow by-passers to "paint" their imaginative building, which in our understanding was the way to please everyone's taste.

Façade is made of a stretched translucent material, which will allow the building to come to life at dusk and transform it back to its Canvas state at dawn.

To create a feeling of being isolated from busy city surroundings the building has an open gardens at its cantilevered side towards the street as well as an isolated backyard, so that every apartment has its own terrace into a green space.

CUBIC

The Site

Site is located in the centre of Tbilisi, 100 meters from Tamarashvili Avenue, adjacent to territory known as hippodrome stables (previously used for hippodrome stables). The surrounding area is mostly residential with several public buildings and one of the largest recreational area in the city. Surroundings are occupied with different species of perennial plants, most of them evergreen.

Project description

The concept behind this building is elevated traditional urban fabric as a public platform which acts like viewing platform and terrace overlooking the city. However building is positioned as conventional tower, and it dismantles at its apex as if lowering its full height towards more horizontal. This emphasizes gravitational conditions of the platform which semantically tends towards being a substance floating over the ground, derived from the notion of a cloud or a light sense of a matter. This follows the architectural tradition of Metabolists , Kisho Kurokava, Arata Isozaki, Archigram, Yona Friederman and others bringing ideas and forces of gravity into reality.

Each tower of proposed building is divided into four distinctive volumes. Purely, by shifting this volumes it became possible to gain space for recreational platforms to be used by residents as if reclaiming the land plot used for construction. The area of the footprint of each tower falls behind gained space for terraces with greenery and public spaces.

Building incorporates a Gym, Spa, cafes, private green terraces for residents and retail at ground level. Proposed landmark building is a vertical landscape with emphasis on preserving the horizontal. It interacts with Tbilisi skyline – as viewed from without and within.

KRTSANISI MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT

Site: The site is a part of the territory of an ex- governmental residency in Tbilisi, Georgia. The district is called Krtsanisi and after Soviet times it is best known as a home for presidential residence, where ex-president of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze still resides. Currently the area is used as “District of Embassies” and high class private developments. Surroundings are occupied by perennial plants, which is seen as a prime value of the place.

Concept: The site with its evergreen perennial plantation has become a key drive for the project. It creates stipulation for appropriate action, which is oriented towards combination of built and context. Idea of proposed master plan flawlessly follows topography and with minimal interference transforms the Landscape into an absolute priority. By foreseeing the character of an existing relief and other natural/climate characteristics we have responded to project brief by preserving the Spirit of Place “Genius Loci”. Therefore the context adaptation through discourse with environment became a prime objective of this project.

Program: Displacement of an ad hoc program distribution, reflected in proposed master plan are evoked by named project objectives. Careful analysis, which was an important part of performed design exercise showed that similar results could not have been achieved using initial distribution plan presented within project brief. Furthermore it could have caused devaluation of the surroundings and loss of its significance in terms of development investment.

Notion of proposed land distribution is divided in two distinctive functional zones, recreational park and residential, which is subsequently divided into several parts. Greenest and most active part of the territory is in a west side of land plot, where existing park and greenery is kept intact with minor renovation / improvements for preserving the history of the place where countries leaders walked for several decades along with guests of worldwide importance. Renewed walking routs will logically integrate into landscapes natural structure, flawlessly following dynamics of existing greenery and evolving with forest’s geometry. This part of the plot will transform into public zone, which will mostly serve inhabitants of nearby loft apartments as their primary recreational area.

Local roads scheme is planned as simple one way traffic, which circulates around entire territory with easy access to each and every building throughout. Existing road opposite British Embassy towards west has been transformed into Pedestrian Boulevard amid private residencies. Proposed master plan incorporates single private entrance and options of exit through shared territory.

Programme distribution process made it clear that larger size buildings as loft apartment’s required noticeable amount of parking space. Cost effective and elegant solution was to raise the volumes, so that only insignificant underground works would be required. We have foreseen the potential of accommodating parking spaces, path through access/exit road and creating architecturally exciting space, which unifies existing landscape, with new volumes as recreational space for communal area. As a result following was achieved: parking is masked under the buildings; no additional roads required outside of building footprint; unified landscape and communal space for Loft Apartments.

Proposed master plan is home for three distinctive housing types – Lofts, Private Houses and Town Houses. As for the Architecture, it can be described as simple and rational, based on repetitive and symmetrical forms. Our aim was to foresee the space and its inhabitants as part of a single organism, rather than concentrate on creating an iconic forms. Overall achievement of the exercise was to preserve nature, not to distract the ghost spirit and keep the memories of the past unharmed.

Lofts

The idea of preserving green value of the land plot caused the reduction in number of Loft apartment buildings. Apartments in each building are distributed on three levels. Each level accommodates six apartments in three categories subsequent space arrangement.

Clustered assembly of the building is developed into non-symmetrical steps. Roofs of extruded consoles represent green terraces of upper level apartments. Plants also cover the walls, which makes the building part of surrounding greenery and attractive to live in. buildings are raised up, standing on monumental columns. Parking spaces with one way path through road are located underneath the volumes. Architecture as whole is monumental and it is balanced with terraces and green walls to compliment the surroundings.

Private House A-B

Comparing to other typologies of buildings these houses are more elite. Therefore isolation and privacy is further expressed from environment. This element is skillfully achieved in architecture – Building arrangement and front yard/open terrace have been raised from street level to a rectangular shaped single story platform overlooking spectacular views. Space underneath the platform is used for car park, store rooms and pool plant. The podium is a home for a peaceful and remarkably elegant square shaped modernist structure housing an open plan large residence on a single level. Large roof slab is hanged between two outer walls, which are subsequently extending further upwards as independent elements in space. Outsized open glazing supplements buildings lightness and its transparency, where physical bound between internal and external is almost removed.

Straight lines and free planning is a signature of this building. Undoubtedly this building curries modernist influence, where the final image becomes both, pleasant and familiar. Idea is inspired by countryside villas of Schindler and Neutra, which takes us back to modernist inception.

Private House C

The cube shaped three level buildings are located in North part of the plot. They stand distinctly on one side of the road and have a shared land plot with open access to platforms housing each building.

Voids within cube structure make the volumes seem lighter and at the same time are used for terraces. Buildings are clad in timber stripes for better integration into surroundings.

Layout is interesting and exciting. Ground level is used as living room with double height atrium penetrating part of upper slab. Upper levels are used as bedrooms.

Townhouse

The most expressed in this typology is the assembly of the building. Townhouses are part of development in south west part of the land plot. They are located on a sloppy part of the site and which dictates architecture for its cost effective solution.

Building is divided into two distinctive areas. Open plan living room is located on its lower level with orientation towards private back yard. Bedrooms are on the second level with views towards open atrium, front and back yards.

Building layout is orientated on a patio atrium, which is an additional light source for both levels.

Parking space for two vehicles is from upper street side along with main entrance from second level.

The house plan is narrow and long. Form follows function. The architecture becomes insignificant. It refuses to all self-statement and organically fits an environment. Simplicity and laconic forms are the main characters of this building.

POTI HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Fact Sheet
Project: Public Service

Location - Poti, Georgia
Program - Office
Building Area - 1620 m2

Poti

Poty is he largest ports in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in the west of the country. Built near the site of the ancient Greek colony of Phasis, the city has become a major port city and industrial center since the early 20th century, exporting Georgia's manganese and coal. It is also home to a main naval base and the headquarters of the Georgian navy. The Poti port area is planned to become a free economic zone within the framework of a Georgian-United Arab Emirates project inaugurated in April 2008.

The city lies at an altitude of two meters above sea level. The city's climate is humid subtropical with mild and warm winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is 14.1 °C; 2 °C in January, and 22.9 °C in July. Rainfall is abundant and reaches 1,960 mm per annum.

The Site

The site is located in the centre of Poti on the Twelve Apostles semi-circle square filling up one of the missing gaps in the building chain of the envelope. The site is 50m wide and 80m long with short side facing the square. The surrounding area is mostly residential represented by two to four storied buildings. The Neo-Byzantine cathedral, constructed in 1906-7 is situated in the middle of the square which acts as the main focal points of radially surrounding streets.

Concept - 'Rolling Stones'

Two dynamic objects are rolling backwards from the platform acting as dynamic forces scattering towards the square. Each of this two shapes are equal in it's form but differ in scale. By rotating each of them we introduce two completely different objects in two different states of movement. An open inclined platform acts like an open amphitheater for views opening towards the Cathedral. The elevated landscape acts like the sea washing of the sides of the objects creating open and enclosed courtyards within the platform. Oxidized cooper finished facades bring large amount of color and distinguish solid state of these 'two' objects.

Programme

The ground floor level conceits of main offices of The House of Justice including:

MUSHTAIDE DEVELOPMANT

The site is located in the centre of Tbilisi on the Northern (Left) bank of the river Mt'kvari. The site is an abandoned open air (non-standard) football pitch and wild greenery not being used for more than 15 years. The size of the plot is 23.600m2. The surrounding area morphology varies - there is Mushtaidi Gardens from one side of the plot and the beer brewery from the other. There is a residential area with the library and some sports facilities nearby. B. Paitchadze UEFA standard stadium with maximum capacity 80.000 people is located about 200m from the site. This stadium is main counterpoint to the development with its size and height. Eight lane embankment motorway is 6m below the plot level supported by the concrete wall. This level difference gives good conditions for phasing of development of the plot. The site is encircled by the very First Children's railway around the world, constructed in 1935. This project considers renovation of the railway with new mini stations integrated into the development.

The interaction of the programme and the stage of the proposed building emerged based on a number of considerations:
• Primarily, the desire to preserve the usage of the site as a public space where large amount of people can enjoy it as a continuation of Mushtaidi park. Space under the deck-platform would be used for hanging cafes & restaurants with direct access to the IMAX 3D cinema ellipse from the park.
• A focus has been given to introducing a raised deck-platform, to liberate the land and connect directly to the garden. The deck-platform has different purposes throughout the year - a platform beach in the summer, and an ice-skating in winter. The deck-platform will be divided into residential and public areas.
• IMAX cinema is positioned in the middle of the development thus connecting all functions of the building becoming a centre of composition and the programme.
• The twin towers 160m tall represent - dynamics, solidity and distinguished purpose of the building. These towers will be the tallest towers in the city.
• Introducing the deck-platform as the main interaction-point of the programme was derived from an analysis of public spaces, community life and local climate. The relative access and recreational opportunities for each component of the programme resulted in an optimal development focus to meet all possible public needs. All functions of the building have separate access points to the deck-platform making the deck-platform an open connection zone through the retail.
• The project relies on one level of building programme in order to maximize the use of land and budget. The building consists of a two underground levels of storages and parking which connects Kipiani str. and the embankment.

FRENCH PAVILION

Location – Garikula (Kaspi Region) ,Georgia

Program – PavilionBuilding Area – 100 m2

Art Villa Garikula, the former Bolgarkiy Summer Residence turned Contemporary Art Center and is a multifunctional international platform, representing the first artistic commune and residency in Georgia, which at the same time serves as exhibition space and unconventional educational establishment. (Foundation for the Revival and Development of Cultural Heritage of Shida Kartli, the founder of the Art Villa)
Art Villa is a place which brings together artists from all over the world to exchange ideas and implement different projects, a cultural crossroad for people with creative interests and various backgrounds in the arts where imaginative energy has been accumulated; it creates international opportunities and promotes joint contemporary art projects, mobility of artists itself and people-to-people links.

MUA has collaborated with French Architect François Scali on a design of the French Pavilion as part of Festi i nova in Garikula.

MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Ministry Of Internal Affairs building was designed by an architect Shota Kavlashvili and constructed in late 20th Century.

Reconstruction design concept represents the mixture of cultural paradigms: proposed extention of vertical walls act as an individual space (place of interesse), explicable as two fundamental entities, such as mind and matter and deconstruction of organically shaped forms as wave, or cloud, or drape of an imaginary matter by slicing and yet constraining between the Dualist Wall of it’s kind.

CONTAINER ART PAVILLION

The Moving Gallery represents a new, experimental space for contemporary art. The Gallery is available to be moved in-between the regions of Georgia. It aims to release several art projects through the country.

SAAKASHVILI PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY CAFE

Saakashvili Presidential Library is located in the center of Tbilisi, surrounded by several universities and is easily accessible for about 30 thousand students who study in the immediate neighborhood. Besides, its central location decides that the students of all other universities may effortlessly access the Library for study and extracurricular activities. Architectural design of the Library belongs to architect Jürgen Mayer.

MUA was asked by Presidential library management to design an open cafe and public space for library staff and visitors.

APARTMENT 12

The duplex apartment is located on the 6th and 7the floor of the newly built residential block adjacent to Vake Cemetery in Tbilisi approximately five kilometers from the city Centre. The building is built in post-soviet style with stucco exterior paint work. From the South there is a park adjacent to the building and the road leading the Turtle Lake (2.4km). The surrounding area is mostly recreational with few residential blocks and the public cemetery. The apartment is facing north, but has at least 7 hour sun shift on the main terrace.

Description

The concept behind this apartment design focuses on work of an American minimal-ist artist Donald Judd 'who's work sought autonomy and clarity for the constructed object and the space created by it'. Objects in fixed composition create open inhabited space. The double sided functional walls divide rooms creating special programme usage - TV, wardrobes, hidden storage and niches from both sides. All walls have common featured niche adjusting to the inbuilt function and are treated universally with black coating.

The decorative wall which visually connects two levels is sort of a 'fantasy' screen which is made out of 3D printed powder substance generated in 'parametric design tools'. The coloring of the apartment is prevailingly black. The apartment is divided in private and public zones. Each level has its own separate entrance. Level I is private featuring - two bedrooms with their own bathrooms, kitchen, wc, washroom, chess corner and the atrium with spiral stairs. Timber (26cm X 200cm) floor finish is universal for all rooms including both bathrooms. The light is hidden with few down and directed light sources accentuating specific areas of the interior. Ceiling in the kitchen area is bare concrete. Level II is public with straight level access to the terrace. Fiber-Glass reinforced concrete, silver-grey through-colored with Ferro matt surface floor finish is also universal for the living room and the terrace. Floor has no separation gap between the living room and the terrace. There is a fireplace, TV and hidden mini bar in the black wall. The light is hidden with few down and directed light sources accentuating specific areas of the interior.

IslandLazika Island is a largest port city in the Black Sea region. It is an artificial land mass located in the territorial waters of Georgia. It is a full scale international port with --- per year container and pulverulent materials capacity. It is located in 3 km from the coastal line with single bridge road connecting the main land, 5 km from Poti, 3 km from Anaklia and 9 km from Batumi. It's size is 3x3 km defined by the size of the port.The proposed island is designed to minimise impact of development on coast line, thus preserving the natural landing spot on bird migration route. The island is an alternative solution liberating the proposed land for the city of Lazika. Diverse programming, careful phasing and strategic priorities to uncertainties and change; fixed and variable condi-tions; complementary rather than competitive contribution to the use of the island. This condition of isolation and hyper connectivity to a larger context - sea - offers a new freedom in its relationship to the mainland. Its super rational logic of artificial land use, infrastructure and internal organisation.Lazika Island is a metabolistic data structure. It is a sole urban body with defined function which informs diversity of the whole organism. Island's urban data is based on 300m grid making morphology as easy accessible by foot as extensible on demand - each module of 300x300m of the grid can be added to the plot. The rail cargo road divides the island in two 1.5km equal parts - port and the city.The Port and the city are divided by a cargo railroad and public transport road which leads directly to the mainland. In case of extension of the island the railway and the railroad will extend to next developed site. Service road, offices and a public park strip act as a buffer between two entities.

The Site: Site is located in territorial waters of Georgia 1.5km away from the Black Sea coastal line. It is connected to the main land with a bridge road serving as - public road and industrial railway and trailer road which is a sole connection point to the mainland. Site is 3x3km 9.000 sq. km. Sea depth at the distance of 1.5km from the land is 3km.

Programme: The Island has complex programme distribution:- Internationla Port - Public Park - Parking- Storages/ Docks - Culture - Feiry Terminals- Offices - Retail - Private Villas- Leisure - Yachting - Sport- Hotels - Residential - HospitalityThe interaction of the programme and the stage of the proposed building emerged based on a number of considerations: • Primarily, the desire to create a first island of Georgia. Preserve the wet mainland with unique eco-system from construction. Create an International Port and fully functioning leisure city, both with expansion capacity. • A focus has been given to introducing a modular platform 3x3km. Main transpor-tation road and public park divide the patform in two equal parts - city and port.• Public park is positioned in the middle of the development thus creating a green hub between the city and the port becoming a centre of composition and the programme. The strip park can be expanded with the grouth of the city.• Finger shaped residential and hotel area is designed as sea calming for yacht and small boat parking. Feiry terminals are located in those fingers for instant hotel and retail access.• Overall height of the island is not exceeding ten strories, altough the office strip has no height limit thus can be designed for the market and client demand.

TBILISI TOWER

Project - Office & Retail

Status - Commissioned

Location - 3 Virsaladze str. Tbilisi,Georgia

Program - Office, Commercial, Restaurants, Apart-Hotel

Gym & Spa and Sky Park

Area - 24056 m2

The Site

The site is located in the center of Tbilisi near The Dry Bridge between the right bank ofthe river Mtkvari and Virasaldze streets. The surrounding area is mostly residential with some public buildings and recreational zones like Alexandrov Park, Vernissage Park and Deda Ena Park. The site is mostly flat with a 6m level difference fromVirsaladze street.There is a theatre building adjacent to the site and the river bank. Holy Trinity Church and President Place building is on the east side, and a new Radisson Hotel is on the west side of the site and Mount Mtatsminda is to the south-west. These are the main visual markers in relation to the building.

‘Tbilisi Tower - Floating City’

The concept behind this building is the idea of elevated traditional urban fabric as apublic platform which acts like viewing platform and terrace overlooking the city. However, the building is positioned as a conventional tower, and it dismantles at its apex as if lowering its full height to more horizontality. This emphasises the gravitational conditions of the platform which semantically tend towards being a substance floating over the ground, derived from the notion of a cloud or a light sense of a matter. This follows the architectural tradition of Metabolists Kisho Kurokawa, Arata Isozaki, Archigram,Yona Friedman and other great architects bringing ideas and forces of gravity into reality.The building is formed as three distinct volumes dividing the building by dedicated functions. The programme is distributed into staggered components on top of each other by emphasising a middle core as a single function - office. The top volume is formed as shifted single height volumes and terraces. A gym, spa, cafe, restaurants, conference, library and skypark with helicopter pad crown the building. On the ground floor there is an office lobby, a retail, cafe, an administration and a business centre.

Programme

The density and mixture of programme of the proposed

building has emerged based on a number of considerations:

• Primarily, the desire to bring different aspects of urban lifeto a residential area. In other words, to provide open elevated platforms for enjoying panoramic views of the city.

• A focus has been given to introducing mixed-programme platforms on top and bottom levels of the building. There are no existing viewing platforms for public use in the old city area. The inclusion of elevated platforms in the building will define its uniqueness and importance in Tbilisi.

• The programme mixture has been driven by a comprehensive feasibility study and market assessment in which various asset classes were analysed. The relative opportunities for each component of programme resulted in an optimal development mix to meet possible public needs.